Birmingham

Birmingham's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in ethnicity, housing tenure and religion.

The population passed a million

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Birmingham increased by 9.8%, from just over 977,000 to 1,070,000.

The addition of just under 96,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in the West Midlands and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Birmingham was home to, on average, 29 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the West Midlands' most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Birmingham

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Birmingham decreased by one year, from 33 to 32 years.

This urban area had the lowest average age in the West Midlands and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 37,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 17% of people in Birmingham are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Birmingham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Birmingham

The number of people in Birmingham from the White ethnic groups increased from about 690,000 in 2001 to about 620,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 70% to 58% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the West Midlands (from 89% to 83%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Birmingham from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 200,000 in 2001 to about 290,000 in 2011 (from 20% to 27%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just under 60,000 to about 96,000 (from 6.1% to 9.0%).

About 48,000 people (2.9%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just under 28,000 in 2001 (4.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Birmingham decreased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Birmingham by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Birmingham that rented privately increased from 8.8% to 18% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in four (24%) households lived in social housing, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of Birmingham households that owned their home decreased from 60% to 55%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Birmingham increased by 9.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Birmingham, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Birmingham

The number of people in Birmingham that described themselves as Muslim increased from just over 140,000 in 2001 to just over 230,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 22% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the West Midlands (from 4.1% to 6.7%) and the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

The number of people in Birmingham that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 580,000 in 2001 to just over 490,000 in 2011 (from 59% to 46%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 120,000 to about 210,000 (from 12% to 19%).

Just over 70,000 people (8.4%) did not state their religion, down from just under 82,000 in 2001 (6.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Muslim in Birmingham increased by 7.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Birmingham by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Birmingham

The percentage of Birmingham residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The proportion who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 3.8%, while the percentage of Birmingham residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.2% to 5.7%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 89% in 2001 to 89% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 90% to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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